Method and machine for making powder puffs



March 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES EFAL 2,572,173

I METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Filed March 1, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 TH. STATION GLUE APPLICATION 2N: vs'r. STATION A WORK RE AL I. LOADING 7 my UNIT INSERTION INVENTORS FE LIX LEVY HAWES MAURICE CASTEL WZMMALW ATTORNEYS March 1954 F. LEV'Y-HAWES EI'AL 2,672,173

METHOD AND MACHINEFOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1950 W m 1 klr. a a am a I a w 64 a a w [I a 1 m aw: 2 a H 35 a: W) I o g 9 I M. I] W17 MP M i w M a a 6 1 a .w. M 1 I a .2 7 x 1m mg fl w i j .u 215 m f9 b d 2 F J h Z m s a E a w 5 I. I33... nj I ..I6 Q14 1 A /A7 1 n 1 w 4 r imi 7 J .5 .J 4v a; a a I a a a 5 6 w al a a i A a w I I! "w- 9 1, mu 4 1 ta H- wi y I a INVENTORS FELIX L EVY-HAWES FIG. 4 MAURICE CASTEL ATTORNEYS March 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES EIAL 2,672,178

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Filed March 1,1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS March 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES ETAL ,672 178 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1, 1950 MW 3 8 S w nU-k AW w .v m.% mmw v m w 1% m v a I IUAH. mEE W M kw ab m v wm .1 LA a .u C! Q .T Q m um mm gm A m% u 1 O w n L mu .NH R -3- IIMM .11 N. MN m w MN: m m

March 16, 1954 F. LEVY-.HAWES ETAL 72,1

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March l, 1950 INVENTORS .FELIX LEVY- HAWES MAURICE CASTEL W/wym ATTORNEYS FIG. I2.

March 16, 1954 LEVY-HAWES ETAL 2,672,178

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Filed March l, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 a Wacky/54M ATTORNEYS INVE OR l FELIX L Yw s MAURICE CASTEL March 16, 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES EI'AL 2,672,178 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Filed March 1. 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS rsux LEVY-HAWES MAURICE YCASTEL BY Water/51%,

ATTORNEYS F. LEVY-HAWES ETAL 2,672,178

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Filed March 1 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 SME% RAT Z V. W; NEM a m muY Hm... F

ATTORNEYS March 16, 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES EI'AL 2,672,178 l METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 1, 1950 FIG.25.

PIC-3.24.

INVENTORS FELIX LEVY-HAWES glaumce .CAS TEL W/aa I /5 64,,

ATTORNEYS F. LEVY-HAWES EI'AL 2,672,178

Mdrch 16, 1954 I METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March l, 1950 QQ Q mm, 36W 93mm 1 MQNQ PQN W3 Du INVEVNTORS 8 E L w E M 5 AT Y HS E Y m v N R n do LE 0 W w W A T March 16, 1954 F. LEVY-HAWES ETAL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed larch l, 1950 a ,2 3 m 0 E L G w M M W a 1 EV W Z Z l- I 5 0 m A a w 2 am F. W T m 0 .D: H 6 0: a 6 0 :1 H U a a; a

BY 7%o YBLLW ATTORNEYS Fig.

Patented Mar. 16, 1954 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING POWDER PUFFS Felix Levy-Hawes, Rye, and Maurice Castel, Freeport, N. Y., assignors to Hygienol Company, Inc., New Rochelle, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 1, 1950, Serial No. 147,012

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved powder puif, a new and improved method of making a powder puff, and new and improved mechanism for making a, powder puff.

It is well-known to make a powder puff which has one or more parts which are made of pile material, with the fibers of the pile material exposed.

ihe invention is explained with reference to the manufacture of a powder puff which has two identical body members made of pile material, with an intermediate inner layer of filler, although the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Although various machines and methods of manufacture have been proposed, hand work is still used in the manufacture of such powder pulls. In such hand manufacture, the two body members are substantially wholly sewed to each other, either with or without an intermediate layer of filler material, while the pile surfaces of the body members face each other. The partly finished puff is then turned inside out at its unsewed portion, thus exposing the pile fibers. The

gap in the turned puff is then finished by handsewing. This hand work is expensive, and the resultant finished puffs are of irregular quality.

According to this invention, a superior machine and method are provided, and superior puffs are produced.

Other objects and advantages and features of this invention are disclosed in the annexed de scription and drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of one of the needle units which are inserted into the machine and which are removed from the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 is a, section on the line 8-8 of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. showing the adhesive-applying means in an open position;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view, showing the closed position of the glue adhesiveapplying devices, said glue adhesive-applying devices being shown in the open position of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 1;

Hair-Hi Fig. 13 is a detail vertical section, showing the latch of the needle unit, said latch being shown in the open position in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line -14 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view, showing the needle plate in its down position, said needle plate being shown in its up positoin in Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a section on the line [6-46 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a section on the line l1-l1 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line 18-48 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 19 is a section on the line I9l9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 2020 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 21 is a section on the line 2 l-Zl of Fig. 4;

Fig. 22 is a schematic view which shows the sequence of operations;

Fig. 23 illustrates hand-operated apparatus for bringing the two halves of the puif together;

Fig. 24 illustrates a finished puif;

Fig. 25 shows a modified form of the finished puff, provided with a ribbon;

Fig. 26 is a section on the line 2B26 of Fig. 24; and

Fig. 27 is a section on the line 21-27 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 28 is a side elevation of a second embodiment, in which the parts are mounted on two endless conveyors. In this embodiment, the assembly operation of Fig. 23 is performed automatically;

Fig. 29 is a top plan view of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a detail of a part of Fig. 28, on a larger scale than in Fig. 28

Fig. 31 illustrates the parts of Fig. 30, with the slide rods located slightly inwardly of their positions of Figs. 28 and 30. When said slide rods are thus moved inwardly, they are moved away from each other;

Fig. 32 illustrates the parts of Fig. 31, with the slide rods moved further inwardly or away from each other, thus stripping the finished puff from the needles; and

Fig. 33 is a section on the line 33-33 of Fig. 30.

TURNTABLE T As shown for example in Fig. 4, the machine has a frame F which includes a base I, to which a hollow, vertical, cylindrical post 2 is fixed. The turntable T is turnable about the vertical axis of post 2. A part of the upper face of turntable T abuts the turnable member of an upper antifriction end-thrust bearing Ta, whose housing is fixed to post 2. A bevel gear is fixed to the lower face of turntable T by fastening members 85a. The bottom edge-wall of the hub of bevel gear 85 abuts the upper turnable member of a lower end-thrust, antifriction bearings Ta,

which is supported on a collar 38. which is fixed to post 2.

Bevel gear 85 meshes with bevel gear 85, which is turnable on stud-shaft 3?, whose inner threaded end is fixed to the collar 38.

As also shown in Fig. 4, bevel gear 35 is fixed by fastening members 95 to the driven disc or star wheel 93 of a conventional Geneva movement 88.

As shown in Fig. 21, said driven disc 53 has four radial recesses 55, which divide the driven disc 93 into four sections, each of which has a concave face 98.

Arm 9!, which is fixed to shaft 31!, has a turnable roll 52, which meshes successively with the successive recesses 95.

When arm 91 is turned clockwise from its broken-line to its full-line position of Fig. 21, its roll 92 meshes with a respective recess and then moves out of said recess 55, and the driven disc 93 is turned through an angle of 90 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 21.

The cam wheel 81, which has a recess 97a, is fixed to shaft 95. The cylindrical face of cam wheel meshes with a respective concave face 88, to lock the star wheel 53 temporarily, during the period in which the roll 92 is out of mesh with the star wheel 53. Since the parts of a Geneva intermittent movement are conventional, no further explanation is required. Shaft is supported in a respective collar Sea which is fixed to post 2.

As shown in Fig. 4, a grooved collar as is mounted slidably and non-turnably on the turnable shaft 98. A friction disc 15! is fixed to collar 99. The shaft of a pulley 253 is turnably mounted in frame F. Said pulley H3 is driven by a belt I94, and said pulley 3553 has a friction disc $02 fixed thereto.

A compression spring mounted on 9d, normally engages friction disc 11 with friction disc 152, to provide a releasable driving clutch I5ll[ 2 which is normally coupled. Arm H35, pivoted at 135 to frame F, has a roll which extends into the groove of collar 59. The lower end of clutch-arm 155 is connected by pivot pin i 15 to a two-section rod H28, which is horizontah ly slidable in a bearing of frame F. The length of red are is adjustable. For this purpose, its two sections are adjustably connected by collar H1. Said rod 138 also extends slidably through a bearing of the frame-arm 59.

The inner end of arm I38 has a roll 15?. In Fig. 4, said roll 15'! abuts the lower cam-shaped end of a slide 3, which is vertically slidable in post 2. Said slide 8 has a vertical slot to, and a key 9, which is fixed to post 2, extends into slot 10, so that slide 8 cannot turn relative to post 2. A pin 5 is fixed to the lower end of slide 8. The lower end of pin 6 is connected by a pivot pin 1 to a treadle 4, which is turnably connected by pivot pin 5 to frame F.

The normal position of treadle 4 is its fullline position of Fig. 4. The pivot 5 may be provided with a torsion spring to maintain treadle 4 in said normal position.

When the foot of the operator depresses treadle 4 from its full-line position to its broken-line position of Fig. 4, the rod $53 is moved to the right by the lower cam-shaped end of slide S from the full-line position of rod iG'S which is shown in Fig. 4 to the broken-line position of rod 08 in Fig. 4, thus turning arm Q5 from its full-line position to its broken-line position of Fig. 4.- thus uncoupling the clutch 524-432. As

later described, the operator thus depresses treadle 3 when the turntable T is temporarily locked by the Geneva movement. The uncoupling of the clutch [Bi-Hi2 provides further safety against an accidental turning movement of turntable T.

- OUTER DIES 33 This embodiment has four identical outer dies 33, which are shown at the respective stations in Fig. 1.

These outer dies 33 are shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 12, together with their identical associated parts.

As shown in Fig. 12, each die 33 has a top recess 35, which provides an internal shoulder. Fig. 6 shows how the operator initially inserts a cylindrical blank B of pile fabric into recess so that said blank B rests upon said shoulder. The pile face of blank 13 is its bottom face in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows that each outer die 33 has a bottom recess 35.

Fig. 12 shows that an outer, angular plate 3'5 is fixed to each outer die 33 by fastening members 31.

The bottom horizontal flange of each plate 36 is close to or abuts a plate 38. The plate 38 can turn freely relative to plate 36 and the respective outer die 33, around the vertical axis of the respectiv outer die 33.

Fig. 13 shows that each plate 38 has five radial and horizontal lugs 38a of equal length, and a sixth radial lug 38b which is longer than the lugs 33a. As also shown in Fig. 18, the long la; 3% has a roller or cam-member 44, which turnable relative to its lug 3817 around a ve*ti cal axis. The ends of a tension spring 45 are respectively connected to the long lug 38b and to the horizontal flange of the angular plate An additional roll or cam-member 43 is turnably connected to the long lug 38b to turn around a vertical axis, and each of the short lugs 380; has a similar roll 43.

Figs. 12 and 18 show that each outer die 33 is provided with six radially slidable plates 40. Each said plate 40 has a cam-slot or cam-meniber 42, in which a respective cam-roll 43 is located. Each plate 49 has a reduced neck N of rectangular shape, which fits slidably in a respective radial slot of a guide ring 33a, which is fixed to the bottom of die 33 by screws 35. Each plate 40 has an enlarged head 49a, which extends into the bottom recess 35 of the respec= tive die 33. Said heads 40a have holes H, through .which the impaling needles H, later described herein, can pass.

When said heads We are in their inner posi tions of Fig. 17, the radial edges of heads 40a abut each other, so that the inner circumferential faces of heads 40a form a. closed ring.

As shown for example in Fig. 5, each guidering 33a is fixed to a pair of vertical rods 53 and 53a, which extend through respective vertical bores of turntable T and of a respective block 52. These blocks 52 are fixed to turntable T by screws or bolts 153. Hence the outer dies 33 turn in unison with turntable T and said dies 33 are vertically movable relative to turntable T.

Each die 33 is biased to its bottom position of Fig. 6, in which the respective guide ring 33a abuts the respective block 52, by means of compression springs 54 and 54a.

These springs 54 and 54a extend through respective bores of turntable T into respective recesses of the respective block 52. The bottom ends of compression-springs 54- and 54d abut respective grooved collars S5 and 556 which arefixed respectively to rods 53 and 53a.

Fig. 7 shows that a lug 5G is fixed adjacent each die 33 to the bottom face of turntable T, by means of a screw or screws 51. An arm 58 is turnably connected to each lug 56 by a pivot pin 59. Each arm 53 has forked extensions 58a and 581), which have rolls 59a which engage the grooves of the respective collars 55 and 55a. Each arm 58 has a roll 60.

Figs. 7, l9 and 22 show a cam 6!, which is fixed to an arm 68a which is fixed to collar 88a of post 2.

Fig. 22 shows that cam 6| has a raised part at the first station.

Each die 33 is thu maintained in its normal lower position of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 at the second, third, and fourth stations, and each die 33 is maintained temporarily elevated relative to turntable I in its upper position of Fig. 5 at the first station.

While the turntable T is held stationary, a cupdie 23 is lowered at the third station from its top broken-line position of Fig. 8 to its lower fullline position shown in Fig. 8, thus moving blank B from its position of Fig. 6 to its position of Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the fiat body of the blank B is then impaled upon a circular row of needles H, and an initial frusto-conical rim Ba is formed in blank B. At this stage, the needles H clear said rim Ba. The cup-die 23 has a bottom recess 2311, which the needle ll enter when the cup-die 23 is moved to its bottom position.

Fig. 1 shows an angular cam 410-41, whose 9 leg 41 is fixed to arm 49, which is adjustably connected by the pivot clamping screw 50 to an arm 48, which is fixed to a collar which is fixed by clamping screw 5 to sleeve I2 which is fixed to post 2. lhe angular relation between arms 49 and 68 can thus be adjusted. The arm 49 may be an extension of leg 47.

When a respective die 33 is at the first, second and third stations, the respective tension spring 45 maintains the respective plates 40 in their normal outer positions of Fig. 18. Said normal outer position of plates 40 are also shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

When a respective die 33 at the third station is moved towards the fourth station, the respective roll 4 strikes the left leg 61a of cam or cammember 43% or rides along said left leg 41a towards the peak of said cam Tia-41, thus turning the respective ring-shaped plate 38 counterclockwise relative to its die 33, and thus moving the respective six plates 40 inwardly from their normal outer positions of Fig. 18 to their shifted inner positions of Fig. 17, in which the side edges of heads .00. abut each other, and the interior circumferential edges of heads 40 form a closed ring. The enfect of such inward movement of the plates 68 is shown in Fig. 15, which shows that the original frusto-conical bead Ba of Fig. 8 is curled inwardly, and that the holes H of the heads illa are thus vertically alined with the needles H. The plates 43 are maintained in their inner positions of Fig. 17 during a suitable period of the movement of the respective die 33 from the third station to the fourth station, as later described.

CUP-DIE 23 The machine has a. single cup-die; 23, which cooperates with a respective lower die 33 at the third station.

As shown in Fig. 4, said cup-die23 is fixed to 6" the lower end of a; rod 22, which is vertically slid= able in a bearing 2| of an arm 20 which is fixed to collar [9, which is fixed to the fixed sleeve l2, which is fixed to post 2 by fastening members 14.

As also shown in Fig. 4, a rod H is fixed to slide 8. Said rod ll extends through the per-= foration in the" bottom transverse wall of fixed sleeve 12, and said rod H is fixed to an enlarged head Ha, which fits slidably insleeve l2.

through the hub 29 of a pair of vertically movable arms 28 and 28a, which are fixed to the upper threaded end of pin l lb by a nut 38.

Rod 22 has an upper threaded end which extends through a sleeve 21 of arm 28. Nuts 3! and 3 la fix rod 22 to arm'28.

The head Ila of rod II has a vertical slot S, which has an upper end IT. A stop pin l 6, which is fixed to sleeve 12, extends through slot S.

When treadle 4 is in its normal full-line posi' tion of Fig. 4, the compression spring l5 maintains head Ha. and arms 23 and 28a in their top full-line positions of Fig. 4, with the stop pin IE abutting the lower end of slot S. The cup-die 23 is then in its upper position of Fig. 4. This upper position of cup-die 23 is also shown in broken lines in Fig. 8.

. When treadle 4 is turned down to its broken' line position of Fig. 4, rod H and its head Ha and its pin Nb and arm 28 are moved" down, as illustrated by the bottom broken-line position of arm 28 in Fig. 4, and the cup-die 23 is moved to its lower full-line position of Fig. 8, thus moving the blank B from its position of Fig. 6 to its position of Fig. 8, and impaling the body of blank B upon the needles H of the respective needle unit 23, and forming the initial f-rusto-conical rim Ba.

NEEDLE UNITS 126 As shown in Figs. 2 and 12, each needle unit i2-5 comprises a sleeve or tube 63, in which a rod 52 is slidable. The bottom end of rod 82 has a roll (35. Sleeve 53 has a vertical slot 64. Rod 62 has a pin 55 which extends through slot 64, sothat rod 62 has a limited axial movement relative to sleeve 63, and rod 62 cannot turn relative to sleeve 63.

As also shown in Fig. 12', the upper end-part of sleeve or tube 63 is externally threaded and is fixed to a head 59, which is integral with a needle plate 10, to which a circular row of vertical needles H is fixed. These needles H are of small diameter so that the holes which are formed in the material by said needles ll are substantially invisible in the finished product.

The upper end-part of rod 62 is threaded and fixed to a stripper plate 13, which has holes Ha through which the needles ll can extend.

As shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, rod 62 has a lateral or horizontal recess 74, which is alined with a bore of sleeve 83 in Fig. 12. The lower end of a blade spring 75' is fixed to sleeve E3. A latch head 76 is fixed to the upper end of blade spring 75. When the latch head 16 is located in recess 14, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the rod 82 is in its bottom position relative to sleeve 63, and the stripper plate 73 abuts the needle plate 10.

In its normal position shown in Fig. 13, the latch head 16 clears recess 14', so that rod 62 is normally free to move upwardly relative to sleeve 63, to the upper position shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 19 shows a horizontal cam 19 and a vertical cam 11, which are located between the third and fourth stations. As shownin Fig; 12, vertical cam?! is fixedte' drin- 18, which is fixedto arm-e3 Saidrod I la has a top reduced pin lib, which extends by fastening members 18b, and a flange 19a of cam 19 is fixed to arm 83 by fastening members 830. The inner end of arm 83 is fixed to post 2.

Fig. 19 shows another horizontal cam 67, which extends from a point between the first and second stations up to a point anterior the third station. Said cam 61 is fixed to arms 83 and 68, and arm 68, as shown in Fig. 4, is fixed to a collar 88a, which is fixed to post 2. The arm 83 may also be rigidly fixed to this collar 88a.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 19, the fixed cam 51 has a plate-extension 61a located below the third station. This plate extension 61 is pivoted at 611) to the cam 61. A torsion spring 61c--61e normally maintains the plate-extension 61a in its upper broken-line position of Fig. 8.

When a needle unit 126 is inserted at the first station, the rod 62 of said inserted needle unit I26 is in its bottom position of Fig. 2 relative to its sleeve 63.

As shown in Fig. 22, the rod 62 is moved by cam 61 to its top position relative to sleeve 63 between the first and second stations, and said rod 62 is maintained in said relative top position at the third station, so that the raised annular flange 13a of the stripper plate 13 is maintained in its position of Fig. 6 at the second station, and also at the third station while the cup-die 23 is in its top position. Hence the pin 65 is at the top of slot 34 at the third station, before the cup-die 23 is depressed at the third station.

When the cup-die 23 is depressed at the third station, the stripper plate 13 is depressed below its position of Fig. 6 together with rod 62, and the plate-extension 61a is temporarily turned to its vertical position shown in Fig: 22, while the sleeve '63 remains supported from the block 52 by means of the needle plate 10.

Referring to Fig. 19, and while the plates 40 of the die 33 which is being moved from the third station to the fourth station are in their inner positions of Fig. 17, the blade spring 15 of the respective latch cont-acts with the vertical cam 11, thus latching the respective rod 62 to its sleeve 53, while said rod 52 is in its bottom position relative to its sleeve 63.

While thus latched, the respective roll 66 is moved to the raised part of cam 19 which is shown in Fig. 22, thus moving the respective needle plate I and its abutting stripper plate 13 above the respective block 52, from the positions shown in Fig. to the positions shown in Fig. 12. The inwardly bent rim Ba and the edge-part of the fiat body of the blank B are thus pressed against each other as shown in Fig. 12, and the needles II are pushed through the holes H of heads 40a of plates 43.

The roll 38 then moves oil the raised part of the cam 19.

The springs 82 then force the latched needle unit downwardly, until the bottom face of needle plate 70 again abuts the top of the block 52.

The needles II are thus withdrawn from the holes H. Due to the pressure which has been applied to rim Ba, and the frictional gri of needles II upon rim Ba, said rim Ba is maintained in the shape shown in Fig. 12.

As shown in Fig. 3, each needle plate 70 has a pair of lugs 80 and 80a, which have respective intermediate recesses M and Ma. One end of a blade spring 82 is fixed to the upper face of each lug 80 and 80a. In the bottom position of needle plate 10 which is shown in Fig. 15, said blade springs 82 may abut the bottom face of the guide ring 33a, which is fixed to die 33 and which serves as anabutment for the free ends of springs 82, so that said springs 82 normally maintain the needle plate 10 in its position of Fig. 15.

The guide ring 33a is provided with recesses 84 in which the lugs and 80a are located.

After the needles II have been thus released from the holes H, the cam 41a41 releases the roll 44, so that the tension spring 45 restores the plates to their normal outer positions, before the die 33 arrives at the fourth station.

The respective needle unit I26 is unlatched after the roll 66 moves ofi" the raised part of cam 19. As shown in Fig. 19, the part of cam TI which is concentric with the axis of rotation of turntable T, and which keeps the head 76 in its latching position, is located anterior to and after the raised part of cam 15.

The cam 4111-41 releases the roll 44, so that spring 45 restores the plates 40 to their outer positions of Fig. 18, at any time after the needles II have been withdrawn from holes H. Optionally and preferably, the cam 41a4'l thus releases the roll 44, after the head 69 has been released from rod 62.

GLUE-APPLYING MECHANISM 24 Any type of glue or adhesive H1 may be used, such as a latex adhesive which dries and sets to vulcanized form at ordinary room temperature of 20 C.25 C.

Fig. 9 shows a tank for holding the adhesive I I7 and which consists of two parts which are vertically movable relative to each other, namely, a vertical ring I I2 and a bottom wall I I3.

Fig. 11 shows said tank in closed condition, in which the frusto-conical edge-wall IIZa of ring H2 makes sealing contact with a frusto-conical edge wall I I3b of bottom wall I I3.

A cover H4, which has filling openings H5, is held to ring H2.

The bottom wall H3 has holes II3a for receiving the needles 7 I. Said bottom wall H3 is fixed to rod 22a, which is slidable relative to cover I I4.

As shown in Fig. 4, said rod 22a is vertically slidable in a bearing 2Ia of an arm 20a, which is fixed to the fixed collar I9 of the fixed sleeve I2.

The upper threaded end of rod 22a is fixed to arm 2811, which is fixed to the collar or hub 29, by means of nuts 32 and 32a. The rod 22a is thus raised and. lowered in unison with rod 22 by treadle 4. Fig. 4 also shows a collar 25 which is fixed to red 22a, and a compression spring 26 which holds cover II 4 in position on ring I I 2, when rod 22a is moved vertically.

When the bottom wall H3 is in its bottom position of 'Fig. 9, the annular lip H3c of its cupshaped bottom face exerts downward pressure upon the rim Ba and the corresponding portion of the body of blank B, and there is a ring-shaped opening H6 between ring II 2 and bottom wall I I3, through which the adhesive I [7 passes to be deposited in a circular line on the top face of rim Ba, inwardly of the doubled edge of the blank B.

When rod 22a is raised to its upper position of Fig. 4, the entire adhesive-applying mechanism 24 is raised out of the respective outer die 33. Since spring 26 always biases the cover H4 to move downwardly relative to rod 22, said spring 25 also always biases ring H2 to move downwardly relative to bottom wall H3, so that the tank is biased to its closed position of Fig. 11, and no adhesive II? can flow out of the adhesiveapplying mechanism 24 when it is out of the respective die 33.

When the adhesive-applying mechanism is depressed, the bottom edge II2b of ring H2 first strikes the rim Ba above the flange or lip 13a of stripper plate I3, thus clamping said rim between rim I i222 and flange 73a. The downward movement of ring H2 is thus stopped, The bottom wall H3 is then moved slightly downwardly relative to ring H2, until the lip or flange M30 is located inwardly and close to lip 13a and said lip or flange strikes the respective part of rim Ba, thus providing the frusto-conical outlet HE. through which the adhesive II! flows, while the needles II enter the openings I When rod 22a is raised from its bottom position of Fig. 9, the bottom wall H3 is moved to its sealing position of Fig. 11 before ring H2 is raised, and ring H2 and bottom wall H3 then raised in unison to their top positions of Fig. 4.

OPERATION OF I-JIACHINE As viewed in Fig. l, the turntable T is turned intermittent! in the clockwise direction. The position of the operator is at point I25.

A loaded neofle unitv I26 is defined. as one which carries a blank 13 which has been shaped as shown in Fig. 9, and to which adhesive been applied at the top face of the rim While the parts are located as shown in Fig. l, the operator depresses treadle 4. The respective outer die 33 at the first station is held in its elevated position of and 22 by Ei While turntable T is held stationary, the operator slides the respective loaded needle unit I23 out of the machine at the first station. This is made possible by the respective radial recess I27. Also, and as shown in Fig. 12, each block .32 has a corresponding radial recess. The operator also inserts an unloaded needle unit I25 into proper position relative to the respective cuter die 32. at the first station. At this first station, the heads sea of the respective outer die 33 are in their open or separated. positions of Fig-l3. The loaded needle I28 which is thus removed at the first station, has its rod $2 in its lower position relative to sleeve 53, with pin at the bottom of slot 55, and with red 82 unlatched from sleeve 63. The stripper plate 13 of the loaded needle unit I26 thus abuts needle plate is, and the needle ll keep the blank 3 in the shape to which it has been pressed as shown in Fig. 9.

It is impossible to remove or insert or to radially shift a needle unit I25 unless the respective out-er die .73 is elevated, As shown in Figs. 8. the needle plate FE! fits closely in the respective guide ring 330:, when the respec tive die 33 is in its lower position.

At second station, the cam 5? holds the respective rod $2, which is there unlatclied from the respective sleeve -83, in the top position of rod relative to sleeve 83, with. pin 55 at or close to the upper end of slot Hence the operator can place a new flat disc-shaped blank B in the position of Fig. 6, while treadle is kept in its lower position.

At the station, the rod 52 of the respecneedle unit 25 is not latched to its sleeve The lowering of roadie 4 actuates the single e third station to shape the on as shown in -applying mechanism n as shown in Fig. 9

en releases the treadle upper position, and the turntable T is given its next intermittent movement.

During this intermittent movement, the roll 66 of the needle unit I26 which was located at the second station at the beginning of said intermittent movement, will move oil the fixed cam 61 to its turnable cam-extension 57a. so that the next downward movement of the single cup-die 23 at the third station can depress the stripper plate I3 of the respective needle unit I23 at said third station, to abut the respective needle plate it.

During said intermittent movement, there is a sequence of operations at the third station and between the third and fourth stations, as follows:

(a) Cam ll-Ala turns the respective plate 38 counterclockwise relative to the respective die 33, thus moving heads 46a from their open or separated positions of Fig. 18, inwardly to their closed positions of Fig. 1'1, thus bending the rim Ba inwardly and alining holes H with needles H. In Fig. .18, the line Pa indicates the movement of roll 44 and line P indicates the action of cam 4'I4'Ia.

(b) The cam 11 temporarily latches the respective rod 62 to the respective sleeve 63, while said rod 62 is in its bottom position relative to its sleeve 63, as shown in Fig 12, and the raised part of cam 79 raises the rod 62 and its temporarily latched sleeve 53 to the position shown in Fig. 12, thus forcing the needles II through the inwardly bent rim Ba and through the holes H of the heads Alla and the lip 13a presses the doubled edge-portion of the rim Ba against the bottom faces of the inwardly moved and abutting heads Gila, so that the entire inner face of rim Ba abuts the upper face of the flat body of blank B.

(0) During said intermittent movement, the rod 62 of the needle unit I26 which is moved from the third station to the fourth station, is unlatched from its sleeve (-23. Also, the roll 66 of said respective needle unit I26 moves off the raised part of cam 19, and the springs 82 downwardly force the needle plate ID, so that the needles TI are withdrawn from holes H. Needle plate In again abuts the top of the respective block 52, and the tension spring 45 returns the heads 40a to their normal outer and separated positions of Fig. 18.

At the fourth station, the adhesive-applying mechanism operates as previously described to deposit a thin ring of adhesive I34 which is shown in Fig. 23. This adhesive may be applied by hand, using a suitable tool.

Also, any of the cam-controlled operations illustrated herein may be performed by hand.

ASSEMBLY OF THE TWO HALVES OF THE BODY OF THE PUFF In this embodiment, the puff consists of two equal body-parts with an intermediate filler I35. Fig. 23 shows a fixture which has a horizontal base I30, a vertical plate I3I fixed to base I30,

and horizontal and superposed rods I32 and I32a which are fixed to plate I3 I.

One of the loaded units I26 is mounted on rods I32 and I32a, with its sleeve 63 and its rod 62 extending through a horizontal opening of plate I3I. Another loaded unit is similarly mounted on rods I 32 and I32a, with the respective rims Ba facing each other.

The median line of the alined recesses 8| and Bio clears the needles II.

Hence, when two loaded needle units I26 are assembled as shown in Fig. 23, the needles II of the respective units are not alined.

Fig. 23 shows one of the thin circular layers of adhesive I34. A single disc-shaped layer I35 of filler material is placed by the operator within and abutting one of the circular rows of needles When the two loaded units I26 of Fig. 23 are moved towards each other, the needles II of each unit pierce the blank of the other unit, and the two blanks are held pressed against each other until they are permanently connected by the contacting layers of adhesive I34.

The units I26 are then moved away from each other and the finished puif shown in Figs. 24 and 25 is removed from the pins 'II by the respective stripper plate I3.

Fig. 23 also shows one of the planar faceportions 69a of the head 69. Each head 69 has two radially opposed fiat face-portions 65a, in order to guide the respective needle unit I26 in its radial sliding movement in the respective recess I21 of the turntable and the respective recess of the respective block 52. When a needle unit I26 is thus inserted, said flat face-portions 69a prevent the needle unit I26 from turning around its vertical axis.

As shown in Fig. 26, the filler I35 of the finished puff has a compressed and tapered edge-portion I35a which is located between the inner portions of the inwardly bent rims Ba. The rim of edgeportion I35a is spaced inwardly from the binding layers I34 of the set adhesive. The adhesive I34 is preferably spaced inwardly from the doubled edges of the rims Ba and from the inner edges of said rims Ba. The filler I35 is thus firmly held in position, and its edge-portion I350. is held compressed and clamped between the rims Ba. A very flexible pufi and a resilient puff is thus produced.

Fig. 25 shows a ribbon I36, whose edges are bent inwardly. The edge-portions of ribbon I36 are located between the rims Ba. The edge-portions of the blank of rim I36 can be bent inwardly, and said edge-portions of the blank of ribbon I36 and the corresponding end-portions of the body of said blank are impaled upon radially opposed needles II of one of the needle units I26 in Fig. 23, before said needle units are slid towards each other to apply the necessary pressure to complete the puff and to shape the filler I35 as shown in Fig. 26.

Such pressure is initially applied to the parts of the pull by the lips 13a of the units I26, in order to apply high pressure at the adhesive I34 and the required pressure is then applied over the entire area of the pufl.

The raised flanges I3aa of the stripper plates I3 are advantageous inthe assembly operation, because said flanges I3aa can apply the assembly pressure, without danger of contact between the needles 'II of one unit I26 and the needle plate III of the other unit I26.

The needles Il may optionally, but not necessarily, be sufliciently close to each other, so that when the final assembly pressure is applied, the edge of the filler I35 cannot pass between the needles.

Figs. 5 and 6 show that each outer die 33 is provided with a bottom recess 35 which is of greater internal diameter than the adjacent upper part of the inner wall of the die. This is optional because the die may be of uniform internal diameter up to the shoulder which is provided by the inner end of recess 34. This has the additional advantage of making it possible to push the needle plate I0 up to the upper end of the die 33 and even out of the die 33, in unison with the stripper plate '53. If desired, the lip or flange 13a of the stripper plate l3 may be made of material which has a high coefficient of friction and the bottom face of the cup die 23 may also be made of similar material, thus providing a firm grip of the blank B between the stripper plate I3 and the cup die 23, in performing the operation shown in Fig. 8.

Although we have illustrated a pufi which has two body-members, each of which has an inwardly bent edge-portion, the invention applies to a puff which has only one such body-member. As is well-known, the other body-member may be a flat piece of material, which does not have an inwardly bent edge.

Also, the invention includes puffs of various shapes, in addition to the circular or disc shape illustrated herein. In such case, the original blank or blanks may be square, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape.

Also, while the invention relates particularly to a powder puff, the method and mechanism illustrated herein are useful for other purposes, so that the invention is not limited to a powder puif or to a method or mechanism for making a powder pufi.

The Geneva stop movement may be replaced by any other mechanism for moving the turntable T or other carrier intermittently and the turntable T is only one illustration of a carrier or carriage for the parts.

While cams and other means have been pro vided to secure certain movements automatically, all the movements may be performed by hand.

It is within the scope of the invention to apply adhesive directly to only one of the body-portions of the puiT or other article, because the contact of the body-portions under pressure will thus apply adhesive to both said body-portions.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 28-32 The primary purpose of Figs. 28-32 is to illustrate a device which eliminates the manual operations which are required to assemble the two halves of the pull and to strip the finished puff from the needles, in using the apparatus of Fig. 23.

Hence many of the parts illustrated in Figs. 1-27 are not shown in Figs. 28-32. Also, and as previously stated, one or more of the cam-controlled operations can be performed by hand in the second embodiment, and the adhesive may be applied by hand in the second embodiment.

The second embodiment comprises respective conveyor means or units I50 and IBM, each of which consists of two parallel endless conveyors which are laterally alined. Said conveyor means have horizontal straight and longitudinally alined top runs and bottom runs. Said conveyor means I50 and I50a are illustrated as endless chains which mesh with and are carried by respective pairs of sprockets I5I and Ma. Sprockets I5I are fixed to respective lateral shafts "2:1 and H2 which are turnably mounted in the frame of the machine. Sprockets I5Ia. are fixed to respective lateral shafts I and I63, which are turnably mounted in the frame of the machine. An additional drive sprocket 562 is fixed to shaft I63. An endless drive chain I6! meshes with drive sprocket I62. Said drive chain I6I is connected to a suitable intermittent drive mechanism, not shown, which actuates shaft I63 intermittently in equal intermittent angular movements, and which holds shaft I63 station- 13 ary in the intervals between said intermittent angular movements. The conveyor means 150 are thus intermittently actuated .in strokes of equal length, and they are held stationary between said strokes.

A lateral shaft I69, which is tumably mounted in the frame of the machine, is provided between the proximate shafts I12 and I65.

An endless chain I61 meshes with sprockets I63 and I66, which are respectively fixed to shafts I69 and I65. A gear I10, which is fixed to shaft I 69, meshes with an equal gear III which is fixed to shaft I12. The conveyor means I55 are thus also intermittently .driven in strokes of equal length, in unison with conveyor means I50a. The actuating strokes of conveyor means I50 are of the same length as the actuating strokes of conveyor means I50a. The respective runs .of conveyor mean I50 and I50a. are actuated in opposite directions.

Blocks 331-, which correspond to blocks 52 of the first embodiment, are located between and .are fixed to the pair of chains of each conveyor means I50 and Illa. These blocks 331' are equally longitudinally spaced.

The chains of each conveyor means I50 and I50a are slidable upon the outer edges of respective bars 203. The inner edges of these bars 203 have respective edge-cams 233a, and their vertical faces have respective face-cams 202.

A needle unit, which is substantially the same as the needle unit I26 of the first embodiment, is permanently associated with each block 33r and its respective outer die .33.

As shown in Fig. 33, the cylindrical head 69 of each needle plate is slidable in the respective block 332', in the direction of the axis of said cylindrical head 69. Said cylindrical head 69 is non-turnable relative to block 331. In this embodiment, the outer dies 33 are fixed to their respective blocks 331'.

As shown in Fig. 32, the head 69 of each needle plate 10 is fixed to the respective leeve 63 by clamping screws 201. Each rod 62 is fixed to its respective stripper plate 13 by interengaging threads. Each needle unit has a compression spring 200, one end of which abuts a boss of stripper plate 10. Said boss is cylindrical and it fits slidably in the inner cylindrical wall of cylindrical head 69. Said compression spring 200 urges the stripper plate 13 away from needle plate 10, until pin 65 abuts the respective stopend of slot 64, as shown in Fig. 32.

In this embodiment, each sleeve 63 has two rolls 66 which contact with the edge-cams 203a. L

Each conveyor unit or means 150 and 150:: has a respective lateral cam-shaft IE2 or I52a which is mounted turnably in the frame of the machine. These cam-shafts I52 and I52a have respective two-lobed cams I53 and I53a fixed thereto An endless chain I54 meshes with a sprocket I which is fixed to cam-shaft $52 and with a sprocket I14 which is fixed to shaft I I2. An endless chain 154a meshes with a sprocket 614a which is fixed to shaft I65 and with a sprocket I64 which is fixed to cam-shaft I52a.

The cam-shafts I52 and I52a are thus intermittently rotated in unison with the intermittent strokes of the conveyor means or units I50 and IBM. J

The conveyor I60 and I50c have respec tive horizontal, hollow. and longitudinally alined slide rods 156 and I66a, which are guided for horizontal to-and-fro movement on respective blocks I 58 and 458a, which are fixed to the frame of the machine. Said slide rods I56 and I564: have respective cam-follower rolls I51 and I5la which are urged by respective compression springs I59 and I 59a to abut the respective cams i53 and I53a. Said slide rods I56 and I560; have additional guide blocks at the proximate shafts I12 and I65.

This embodiment has an assembly and stripping station N, at which the two parts of the puff are assembled and stripped to fall into receptacle I60.

Each conveyor unit I 50 and I50a has two loading stations M. The operator places a blank B into an outer die 33 at either said loading station M. The blank B is thus placed in the position shown in Fig. 6.

Each loaded outer die 33 is then moved to a cupping station at which the cupdie 23 is lo cated, and each loaded outer die 33 is then moved to an adhesive-applying station, at which the adhesive is applied by hand or by the adhesiveapplying means 24.

Each cup die 33 and each adhesive-applying mechanism 2-1 are moved up-and-down in unison while the respective conveyor units I50 and I50a are held stationary. The cup dies 33 and the adhesive-applying mechanisms 24 are thus moved up and down by hand, or by suitable cam means, which are suificiently illustrated in the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 shows blade springs 82 which urge the needle plate 10 to move relative to die 33 in a direction parallel to the axis of rod 62. ,Similar springs can be fixed to the inner faces of needle plate 10 in the second embodiment, so that said springs will urge each needle plate 10 away from its block 331". Thus, when a block 331 is in a top run of either conveyor unit I50 or I50a, said springs will urge needle plates upwardly relative to blocks 331'. The blocks 33:" may be provided with suitable recesses to receive said springs, when a needle plate 10 abuts its respective block 331'. Also, the inner walls of dies 33 may be cylindrical and of uniform diameter inwardly of their blank-supporting shoulders, as previously noted.

The operation of his second embodiment is as follows:

At each of the loading stations M, the respective sleeve 63 is not latched to the respective rod 62, the respective pin 65 is at the top of the respective slot 64, the respective rolls 6S abut the respective edge-cams 203a, the respective needle plates 10 abut the respective blocks 33r, and the respective stripping plates 13 are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 6 relative to the respective needle plates 10. As previously noted, the second embodiment may have springs which urge the needle plates 10 to move away from blocks 33r, in a direction which is upward in the top runs of the conveyor units I 56 and I50a. However, each needle plate '10 is fixed by its head 69 to its respective sleeve 63, whose rolls 66 abut the edge-cams 203:; at the loading stations M, so that edge-cams 203a and rolls 66 hold each needle plate 10 against its block 331' at each loading station M.

The face-cams 202 are located and shaped to bear upon the latch springs 15, in order to urge latch heads 16 horizontally to enter recesses 14 r of rods 62. However, the recesses 14 are located above latch heads 16 at loading stations M, so that latch heads 16 remain out of recesses 14 in 15 non-operating positions at loading stations M. Also, the latching face-cams 202 may optionally be omitted at loading stations M.

Said latching face-cams 202 are provided at the cupping stations and may optionally be located anterior the cupping stations, between said cupping stations and the next preceding loading stations M.

Each cup-die 23 is operated to function as shown in Fig. 8, in order to locate and to shape the respective blank B as shown in Fig. 8, and also to depress the respective stripping plate 13 and its rigidly connected rod 62, until stripping plate 13 abuts its needle plate 10 as shown in Fig. 8. The recess I4 of rod 63 is thus depressed until it is alined with the respective latch head I6, and the face-cam 262 forces latch head 16 into recess 14, thus holding the respective stripping plate 13 against the respective needle plate IE, while the rolls 66 and edge-cams 203a hold each needle plate 10 against its block 33r.

The cup die 23 is then raised, and the respective conveyor units I50 and I50a are given their next stroke.

While each loaded die 33 is moved from the cupping station to the adhesive-applying station, the plate 38 is turned by hand or by a cam to move the heads 40a of the respective loaded die 33 inwardly as shown in Figs. 15 and 18, to bend the rim Ba inwardly as shown in Fig. 15; also, the needle plates I are moved upwardly relative to blocks 33r in unison with stripper plates 13 which are now held latched to sleeves 63 by face cams 202, to shape the blanks as shown in Fig. 12; the needle plates III are then moved down to abut blocks 331', while the stripper plates I3 are also moved down to remain in contact with needle plates and the heads 40a are then moved to their outer positions of Fig. 17.

Between the cupping station and the adhesiveapplying station, the needle plates 10 are urged to move upwardly relative to blocks 33r by said springs, and the up-and-down movement of said needle plates 10 is controlled by the shape of edge-cams 203a, which are suitably shaped for this purpose with suitable peaks and depressions. This shape is well-known per se.

After the adhesive has been applied, the loaded dies and their needle units are moved to their horizontally alined positions at station N.

The edge-cams 203a have depressions at station N.

As the respective dies and their needle units are moved to their said horizontally alined positions, the slide rods I56 and I56a are moved towards each other by cams I53 and I53a to abut the respective rolls 66 and to push the needle units out of dies 33 towards each other, into the positions shown in Fig. 30. Each set of needles N then penetrates both blanks B, and the blanks B are pressed against each other. As the result of this pushing movement, the blade springs at station N are pushed beyond points at which they abut the latching face-cams 202, so that each sleeve 63 is unlatched'from its rod 62 at station'N, at the time or shortly before the time that the needle units are moved into their positions of Figs. 80 and 33. In said positions, the rolls 66 may abut or be spaced slightly from the depressed parts of edge-cams 2030. The springs now urge the stripper plates 13 towards each other and away from the needle plates I 0, in order to exert pressure on the two halves of the puff. The springs 200 cannot force the needle plates 10 y from each other, because this is prevented 16 by the contact of rolls 66 with the slide rods I56 and I56a.

The conveyor units I50 and I50a are held stationary during a sufiicient period, so that the pressure of the needle plates I0 and of the stripper plates I3 firmly connects the blanks B at station N.

During the next strokes of the conveyor units I50 and I50a, the cams I53 and I53a are turned so that the compression springs I59 and I59a move the slide rods I56 and I56a away from each other in a retracting movement. Fig. 31 shows the partial retraction of slide rods I56 and I56a, and Fig. 32 shows therfully retracted positions of slide rods I56 and ISGa.

As the slide rods I56 and I56a are retracted, the springs 200 maintain the stripper plates 73 pressed against the two halves of the puff, and the needle plates 10, whose rigidly connected sleeves 63 are now released from rods 62, are pushed away from each other by springs 200, to withdraw the needles II from the puiI, as shown in Fig. 31.

Said respective strokes of the conveyor units I50 and I5I|a finally separate the stripping plates I3 from the finished puif, which falls into receptacle I60.

The latching face-cams 202 are interrupted between station N and the cupping stations, or between station N and a point between each cupping station and the next preceding loading station M.

The edge-cams 203a are shaped after station N to move the needle plates II! inwardly into their dies 33, until said needle plates abut their respective blocks 331'.

We have disclosed preferred embodiments of our invention, but numerous changes and omissions and additions and substitutions can be made without departing from its scope.

Also, the invention covers the sub-combinations of the complete combinations or machines or devices disclosed herein.

We claim:

1. A method of making a powder pull which has one body-portion which has an inturned rim and another body-portion and an intermediate filler piece, which consists in impaling the blank of said first-mentioned body-portion upon a respective set of impaling needles which are located inwardly of the edge of said blank, thus providing the impaled part of said blank with an edge-portion which is free from said needles, turning said edge-portion inwardly and impaling it on said needles to provide said blank with an inturned rim which has an inner edge, applying adhesive to the exposed surface of said rim, locating said filler piece between said blank and said other body-portion with the edge of said filler piece located between the doubled edge of said blank and the inner edge of said rim, and connecting said body-portions by said adhesive, said adhesive being confined to a part of said rim which is spaced from the edge of said filler piece.

2. A needle unit which comprises a tube which has a longitudinal axis, a needle plate fixed to said tube, said needle plate having a row of needles which are parallel to said axis, a rod axially slidable in said tube, a stripper plate fixed to said rod, said stripper plate having holes therein for receiving said needles, said stripper plate being movable in unison with said rod to a positionin which said stripper plate substantially abuts said needle plate, said stripper plate 17 being movable in unison with said rod to another position in which said stripper plate clears said needles.

3. A needle unit according to claim 2, in which said stripper platehas an edge-portion which is raised axially relative to the body of said stripper plate.

4. A needle unit according to claim 2, in which said tube has a lateral opening therein, said rod has a lateral recess which can be laterally alined with said opening, and said tube has an external latch connected thereto, said latch having a head which is adapted to be inserted through said opening to said tube into said recess of said rod to hold the rod in fixed axial position relative to said tube.

5. In combination, a hollow outer die which has a longitudinal axis, said outer die having an axial opening, the internal wall of said opening being shapedto provide an internal shoulder adjacent the top of said die, an outer turnable plate mounted upon the external wall of said die, said outer plate being turnable relative to said die about the axis of said die, said turnable plate having a series of radial lugs which are external to said die, cam members turnably connected to said lugs, said die also having a series of radially slidable plates, each said plate having a cam slot in which a respective cam member is located, guide means for guiding said radially slidable plates to move radially relative to said die, said radially slidable plates having internal end parts which are located in said opening of said die, said cam slots being shaped so that the turning of said outer turnable plate relative to said die radially actuates said radially slidable plates.

6. A combination according to claim 5, in which said inner end parts are shaped to abut each other and to form a closed ring when said slidable plates are in their radially innermost positions.

7. A combination according to claim 5, in which said tumable plate is spring-biased to a normal position in which said inner end parts are spaced from each other.

8. A combination according to claim 5, in which one of said lugs is of greater radial length than the other lugs, said longest lug having an additional cam member connected thereto.

9. A combination according to claim 5, in which said inner end parts have needle-receiving holes, said combination also having a needle unit associated with said die, said needle unit comprising a tube to which a needle plate is fixed, said tube having a longitudinal axis, said needle plate having axially disposed needles which extend into the opening of said die, a rod which is axially slidable in said tube, said rod having a stripper plate fixed thereto, said stripper plate having needle-receiving holes, means for maintaining said needle plate in fixed position relative to said die.

10. A machine for assembling two pieces of material comprising two endless conveyors, said conveyors having proximate end which are separated from each other to provide an assembly station, each said conveyor having at least one holder fixed thereto, said conveyors being movable to locate said holdersin alinement at said assembly station, each said holder being adapted to hold a respective blank, each said holder having a needle unit provided with needles on which the respective blank can be impaled, each said needle unit also having a stripper plate which is movable relative to the needles of said unit, cam operated means at said assembly station adapted first to project said needle units and said stripper plates in unison towards each other to impale said blanks on the needles of both needle units while clamping said blank between said stripper plates, said cam means being operative first to withdraw the needle units irom said blanks and then to remove said stripper places Irom contact with the assem bled blanks.

11. A method of shaping a piece of material from a blank or said material, which consists in piercing the body or said blank at a plurality of body-piercing points which are located inwardly oi the edge or said bony in order to provide an edge-portlon or said body which is iree Irom said body-piercing points, supporting said body at said body piercing points, then turning said edge portion inwardly relative to said body, and then moving said inwardly turned edge-portion towards said body while piercing said edge-portion at addltlonal piercing points which are aimed with said body-piercing points, and supporting said inwardly turned edge-portion at said additional piercing points.

12. A method of shaping a disc-shaped blank of material which consists in piercing a body of said blank at a plurality or piercing points which are located inwardly or the edge or said blank, thus providing said pierced bony-portion or the bang with an edge-portion which is free from said piercing points, supporting said blank at said piercing points, bending said edge-portion into i'rusto-conlcal outwardly-naring shape relative to said pierced and supported part, then bending said edge-portion inwardly to overlie said pierced and supported part, and then moving said edgeportion towards said body, while piercing said edge'portion at additional piercing points which are aimed with said previously mentioned piercing points, said alined piercing points being located inwardly or the common marginal June-- tion-line of said inwardly turned edge-portion and said body of the blank.

13. A method or" making a powder puflf which 7 has one body-portion which has an inturned rim and which also has another body-portion and an intermediate iiller piece, which consists in piercing the blank of said first mentioned body-portion at a respective series of piercing points which are located inwardly of the edge of said blank, supporting said blank at said piercing points, turning said edge portion inwardly and piercing it at additional piercing points which are almed with said first mentioned piercing points in order to provide said blank with an inturned rim which has an inner edge, applying adhesive to the exposed outer surface of said rim, locating said filler piece between said pierced blank and said other body-portion with the edge of said filler piece located intermediate the doubled edge of said blank and the inner edge of said rim, and connecting said body-portions to each other by said adhesive.

14. A method according to claim 13, in which the adhesive is confined to a part of said rim which is spaced from the edge of said filler piece.

15. A method according to claim 13 in which the second mentioned body-portion is pierced and supported at another set of piercing points before it is applied to said first mentioned bodyportion.

16. A method of shaping an original blank of material to provide a shaped blank, said 

